PVC Overflow question

I made an overflow about a week ago and I have noticed that the water level in the tube inside the tank slowly rises until it reaches the top and then it quits draining. I have an air line superglued at the "U" with a check valve. Everything is cemented except the big stand pipe at the top of the Tee and the outlet hose going to the sump is just pressed into the fitting.

Any ideas?



Also just cuz I got a new phone yesterday, here is my blenny "benny"!

 

Your overflow goes above your tank level so you have to start a siphon before it will work. Instead of the check valve you should have a small aqua lifter pump that will start to draw the water up and start a siphon. They are pretty inexpensive.

 

Also it looks like your lines go pretty deep into your tank and I don't see an overflow box to prevent your tank level from dropping to low. If you do start a siphon and your return pump fails or the power goes out you will empty your tank and probably overflow your sump and cause a flood.

 

It sounds like your standpipe can't keep up with your return pump. It's likely a maginal thing, which is why the end of the in-tank tube slowly becomes exposed. That, or you might have a helluva evap going on, which causes the water in the sump to drop, so a bit more gets removed from the DT over time, thus, exposing the end of the tube.

If the trouble is evap, you might try adding a couple of elbows (one street, one regular slip) on the tank end and having the intake face downward, which will put it a bit lower in the water (assuming the sump will tolerate the additional backflow upon power-off).

 

Wow, some interesting assumptions on some peoples part.
Such as his intake is up near the surface, and will stop if the level goes below it.

There are better ways to miodify your basic design.
I've currently been using a simiar design for over 2 years now.
I've also helped at least three people build and use one via PM's.

The way you are using it, it's get very little surface area skimming.


Please check out my thread on it:
http://www.3reef.com/forums/i-made/non-drilled-tank-alternatives-my-diy-overflow-140523.html

 

Good man, Todd...that's similar to how a good friend of ours plumbs his SH setups.